Bag loading unit



May 5, 1964 D. M. CAME ma 68 L T13-Mum g Mln 2'] 275 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 5, 1964 D. M. CAME 3,131,523

BAG LOADING UNIT Filed April 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,13l,523 BAG LABENG UNET Donald M. Caine, Brookline, Mass., assigner to W. R. Grace t Co., Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. d, 1961, Ser. No. 100,679 3 Claims. (Cl. 53-258) This invention relates to packaging and more particularly to the packaging of objects within flexible bags. Specifically, this invention relates to machines or apparatus which facilitate the loading of objects into flexible relatively fragile bags or containers.

A recent innovation in the handling or processing of fresh meat has been the use of iiexible plastic bags to enclose so-called primal cuts. The term primal cut refers to quarters, loins, rounds, etc. and such cuts weigh in the order of from 35 to over 20() lbs. Until recently such meat cuts have not been considered to be suitable subjects for packaging.

Packaging has been confined to the retail cuts and to a lesser degree to the purveyor cuts. rThe benefits obtained by packaging the smaller cuts include reduction in shrinkage or weight loss due to dehydration and protection of the enclosed product from soiling or contamination. These benefits are equally important and desirable in the case of the large primal cuts. Many diiculties attend the packaging of these large, heavy and irregularly shaped items. The most desirable protective coverings are flexible, moisture impermeable plastic bags or co-ntainers. Such plastic bags in the gauges normally manufactured and employed in packaging are not able to withstand a great deal of physical abuse. For example, the heavy primal cut could not be dropped into,

or forcibly stuffed into such a plastic bag without puncturing or tearing the bag, nor could the bagged product be drawn along a surface or roughly handled without rupturing the bag. One of the major problems facing those interested in packaging primal cuts is that of inserting the product into the bag without damaging the bag and without the necessity of employing expensive, complicated apparatus, and yet be fast enough so as to be economically practicable.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine or apparatus which will facilitate the entry of large, heavy products into flexible bags.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine or apparatus which will permit a large, heavy, irregularly-shaped product to be enclosed within a flexible plastic bag without the necessity of lifting, dragging or pushing the product and without damaging the bag.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine or apparatus which will take the product from one location, hold it in position to be enclosed within a flexible bag, and deposit the bagged product at another location without lifting or dragging the product.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which will take a large, irregularly-shaped product from a moving conveyor and hold the product in such a position that a plastic bag may be brought around the product and will remove the product from the apparatus without damaging the bag and without lifting the product or dragging the bagged product.

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a specific embodiment of the present invention and in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View partially in section of the apparatus of the present invention.

FlGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE. 3 is a plan view taken on line 3-3 of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l.

FGURE 4 is another plan view taken on line 3 3.

The present apparatus while particularly adapted to handle large, heavy cuts of meat is also suitable for handling any large, heavy object which is to be inserted into a bag or pouch. The bag or pouch may be composed of any exible material suitable as a covering for the object packaged. Suitable materials include but are not limited to plastic film bags, e.g. saran, polyethylene, etc., paper bags, laminates of paper, plastic or metal foils, etc. or any combination thereof.

Referring to the drawings, an apparatus of this invention is shown to comprise a supporting framework designated generally as 21 carrying an endless conveyor belt 22 mounted on the top thereof. The conveyor belt 22 is trained about a rearward pulley 23 and a forward pulley 24 which pulleys are supported by and rotatably mounted within two opposed and parallel channel members 25 extending along each of the long `sides of the belt. The conveyor belt 22 is driven via a V-belt 29 by an electric motor 26. The electric motor is located on a base plate 27 which base plate is attached and held between the four upright legs 28 which constitute part of the framework.

Track guide rails designated generally as 3l extend lengthwise along either side of the apparatus just below the channel members 25 and each track guide rail is secured at both ends to the top of a leg 2S. Each track guide rail has an upper channel 32 and a lower channel 33 extending the length of each rail and giving each rail an E-.shaped cross section. The channels of each track guide rail face inwardly toward the longitudinal center line of the apparatus. The two channel members 25 are mounted above the track guide rails 31.

A product support frame or carriage, designated generally as 34, consisting of a forward 35, rear 36 and two side members 37 forming a rectangular frame, is movably mounted within said upper channels 32 of the track guide rails by means of flanged Wheels 38, two of which are mounted in tandem on each side member 37 of the product support frame. A number of spaced, parallel product support rods 39 extend forwardly of said frame parallel with the line of travel of the conveyor belt. The rods 39 are mounted to the frame by passing the former through openings in the forward 35 and rear 36 members of the frame and welding the rods in place. A guide Wheel 66 attached to each side member 37 of the support frame functions to keep the support frame in line while traveling along the support rails. The guide wheels are mounted on shafts 67, which shafts depend downwardly from the center of said side members 37' of said support frame. The peripheral edge of each guide wheel bears against the track guide rail between the upper and lower channels thereof and serves to hold the product support frame a fixed distance from each of the support rails.

An expeller support frame or carriage designated generally as 4), having forward 4l, rear 42 and side 43 members forminga rectangular frame and having two flanged wheels 44 attached in tandem to each side member, which flanged wheels lit into the lower channels 33 of the track guide rails, is movable along said track guide rails a fixed, spaced distance below the path of movement of said product support frame 34. rl`he forward member 41 has rigidly attached thereto a number of upwardly extending vertical expeller bars 46. The expeller bars 46 extend above the level ofthe product support rods 39 but below the level of the top of the conveyor belt.

An endless chain belt 50 is trained about a driven` sprocket wheel 51 and a drive sprocket wheel 52. The

chain and both sprocket wheels lie in a plane between the plane of travel of the product support trame 34 and the plane of travel of the expeller support frame 4t). The driven sprocket wheel 51 is horizontally supported on a vertically disposed shaft 53. A anged bearing 54 supports the base of the shaft 53 and permits its free rotation therein. A bushing 55 mounted on the front legs of the apparatus supports the shaft 53 below the driven sprocket wheel 51. A second vertical shaft 56 supports the horizontally disposed drive sprocket wheel 52. The base of the shaft 56 is connected via a coupling 68 to the drive shaft of an electric motor 58. Bushings 59 support the shaft 56 below the drive sprocket wheel S2. The electric motor turns the shaft 56 and the sprocket wheel 52 driving the chain belt around the free turning sprocket wheel 51.

A recessed channel 6l) is located on the underside of the forward member 35 of the product support frame which channel is wider than the diameter of the sprocket wheels. A pin 61 mounted rigidly at one end thereof to the chain belt extends above said chain belt and tits into the channel 66B. Movement of the chain belt acting through the pin 61 moves the product support frame 34 forward until the pin reaches the mid point of its travel about the driven sprocket wheel. Further movement of the chain belt then causes the pin and the product support frame to be drawn back in the direction of the drive sprocket. As the pin travels around the sprocket wheels in a semicircle, the pin moves within the channel to accommodate the lateral displacement of the pin as it swings from one side of the sprocket wheel to the other.

A second pin 62 is located approximately 1A of the length of the chain belt to the rear of the iirst pin 61 with respect to its direction of travel. Pin 62 is rigidly fastened to and extend below the chain belt. As pin 62 is carried along by movement of the chain it eventually comes in contact with the rear edge of the rear member 42 of the expeller support frame 40 and then as it continues it pushes the expeller support frame forward until it reaches the most forward or mid-point of travel about the driven sprocket wheel. As the pin commences to travel backward toward the drive sprocket wheel, the expeller support frame is urged backwards against said pin by a coil spring 63 fastened to the rear member 42 of the expeller support frame and stretched to and fastened to a lug 64.

Operation is as follows:

The product to be packaged is carried along the conveyor belt 22 in a direction from right to left in the drawing of FIGURE 1. A first switch (not shown) activates the electric motor 26 driving the conveyor belt. A gate 65 is mounted above the conveyor belt near its discharge end. As the product hits the gate a micro-switch 99 starts the electric motor 58 which drives the chain belt. Prior to starting the motor 58, the expeller support frame 40 is in its fully retracted position, i.e., the expeller bars 46 are positioned adjacent to and just in front of the discharge end of the conveyor belt and the rear member 42 of the expeller support frame is located approximately midway between the sprocket wheels as shown in FIG- URE 3. The pin 62 is located behind the rear member 42 on the return path of the chain belt. The product support frame 34 is also in its fully retracted position, i.e., the forward ends ot the product rods 39 extend a short distance in front of the discharge end of the conveyor and the pin 61 and the forward member 35 of the product support frame are located at the mid-point of the arc of travel about the drive sprocket wheel 52. After the product has hit the gate 65 and the chain belt has been set in motion, the product falls oi the conveyor onto the product rods which are moving out at approximately the same speed as the conveyor belt. The product rods continue to carry the product a ixed distance away from the conveyor. At the end of the product rods forward travel, the product support frame trips two micro switches 100, 101. One of these switches stops the travel of the chain belt and the other switch starts a timer motor 102. The product support rods 39 are now fully extended. A plastic bag is drawn over the ends of the product rods and over the product supported by the rods. After an interval of time sulicient to permit the bag to be drawn over the product, the timer motor closes a switch 103 starting the motor 58 driving the chain belt. At this point, the pin moving the product support frame begins its backward travel causing the product rods to retract. At the same time the pin 61 engages the expellcr support frame pushing it forward. The expeller bars 46 come in contact with and push the product oi the retracting product support rods. the product support rods and no force is applied to or strain placed upon the bag surrounding the product. A suitable means to receive the bagged product is located just below the point at which the product is pushed orf the product support rods. For example, a conveyor belt may be located below the point at which the bagged product is to be dropped oi to convey the bagged product to a subsequent station. The product support frame continues to be retracted and the expeller support frame is gradually retracted by the spring 63 after the pin 62 has passed the mid-point of the driven sprocket and starts to travel toward the drive sprocket wheel.

The invention described in detail in the foregoing specication is subject to changes and modifications without departing from the principle and spirit thereof. The terminology used is for purpose of description and not of limitation, the scope of the invention being dened in the claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus to facilitate the insertion of a heavy product in a flexible bag including a frame, a product conveyor surmounting the frame, product support means positioned beneath the conveyor adapted to reciprocate in the same line of travel as the conveyor and to advance a suflicient distance beyond the conveyor to receive a product delivered by said conveyor, means to arrest the motion of the product support means at its point of maximum advance for a time sufficient to permit a bag to be drawn over the product and the support and to initiate the retraction of the support means after the bag is so placed, product pusher means adapted to reciprocate along the line of travel of the conveyor and the product support means and to commence its advance at the moment that the product support means begins its retreat and thereby push the bagged product od the support means, power means operatively connected to move the support and pusher means, and means to power the product conveyor.

2. Apparatus to facilitate the insertion of a heavy object into a ilexible bag which includes a supporting frame, a longitudinally extending product carrier belt surmounting the frame and trained over drive and idler rolls mounted respectively at opposite ends of the frame, upper and lower track guide rails longitudinally mounted on each side of the frame and below said belt, upper and lower slideable carriages mounted respectively on each pair of upper and lower rails, product support rods fastened to and extending longitudinally beyond the upper carriage, vertically extending product pusher rods fastened to the out-board end of the lower carriage, power means to drive the carrier belt, carriage moving means including a second power source energized by the arrival of a product at the delivery end of the carrier belt to advance the upper carriage and to project the rods beyond the end or" the frame at a rate of advance substantially equal to the linear speed oi' the Carrier belt, means to disable the second power source when the rods reach the position of maximum advance, means to re-energize the second power source after a flexible bag has been drawn over a product supported on the rods and thereby cause the carriage moving means to retract the rods, the said carriagemoving The product can be easily pushed offV means serving at this time simultaneously to advance the end of the lower carriage beyond the end of the frame and to push the bagged product from the retreating support rods, and spring means to retract the lower carriage.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the carriages are each provided with forward transverse members and rear transverse members and wherein the means to move the support and pusher carriages include a horizontally disposed driven sprocket vertically positioned between the carriages, an idler sprocket similarly positioned and located adjacent the delivery end of the frame, a lo chain trained about the sprockets, an upwardly extending pin fastened to the chain, a downwardly facing slot formed in the forward transverse member of the support carriage engaged by the upwardly extending pin, a down- 15 wardly extending pin fastened to the chain at a point remote from the up-facing pin and of sufficient length t0 engage with the rear transverse member of the pusher carriage, the position of the pins on the chain being such as to cause, as the chain moves about the sprockets, the outward movement of the pusher carriage to begin at the moment that the support carriage begins its retreat.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,816,251 Chambers et al. July 28, 1931 2,769,558 Ehlers Nov. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 620,547 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1949 

1. APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE INSERTION OF A HEAVY PRODUCT IN A FLEXIBLE BAG INCLUDING A FRAME, A PRODUCT CONVEYOR SURMOUNTING THE FRAME, PRODUCT SUPPORT MEANS POSITIONED BENEATH THE CONVEYOR ADAPTED TO RECIPROCATE IN THE SAME LINE OF TRAVEL AS THE CONVEYOR AND TO ADVANCE A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE BEYOND THE CONVEYOR TO RECEIVE A PRODUCT DELIVERED BY SAID CONVEYOR, MEANS TO ARREST THE MOTION OF THE PRODUCT SUPPORT MEANS AT ITS POINT OF MAXIMUM ADVANCE FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT A BAG TO BE DRAWN OVER THE PRODUCT AND THE SUPPORT AND TO INITIATE THE RETRACTION OF THE SUPPORT MEANS AFTER THE BAG IS SO PLACED, PRODUCT PUSHER MEANS ADAPTED TO RECIPROCATE ALONG THE LINE OF TRAVEL OF THE CONVEYOR AND THE PRODUCT SUPPORT MEANS AND TO COMMENCE ITS ADVANCE AT THE MOMENT THAT THE PRODUCT SUPPORT MEANS BEGINS ITS RETREAT AND THEREBY PUSH THE BAGGED PRODUCT OFF THE SUPPORT MEANS, POWER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO MOVE THE SUPPORT AND PUSHER MEANS, AND MEANS TO POWER THE PRODUCT CONVEYOR. 